The Arizona sentinel., 1887-01-01
SANTA CLAUS AND THE CAT.

SANTA CLAUS AND THE CAT. Kris Kringle Finds to His Surprise That
 Some of His Children Didn't Believe in
 Him-NO Stockings at the Fireplace.
 The snow had settled thickly on the house-top, and Santa Claus, who had alighted hurriedly from his sleigh, was unpleasantly conscious that he was get ting his feet wet. Dear me- said he, feeling blindly about in the eight-inCh fall of snow, ''this is very distressing. l fully believe have lost my way"
 ''To be sure you have" said small, sleek voice. And why shouldn't you? I've lost mine"
 ''Oh! have you?" continued Santa Claus. groping around toward the small of his back in search of the patent buckle by which to relieve himself from his cumbersome load of snow-covered toys; ''then what's to be done?"
 "Who are you, anywayw said the small, sleek voice
 'Why, bless my heart" replied the other, ''don't you know? Who on earth wouldyou expect to meet on the roof of a house upon Christmas Eve if not Santa Clausp"
 Well, 10 tell the exact truth" said the stranger, Il was expecting to meet Maria. But it's all right; I'm a mem Der of the Claus family myself. I'm the Cat. ."
 You don't mean it?" replied Santa Claus, who by this time had found the buckle and had dropped his load of toys with the dullest kind of thud you can imagine upon the snow untitled roof. 'But come to think of it now, I've often seen your photograph taken with a background of h.mney pots. It's singular we've never met before.
 Not the least bit singular" said the Cat, ''that you haven't met me. I've taken care that you shouldn't You are add cted to pea-shooters and pop guns. You also carry silver bells, strung upon bits of blue ribbon, and, what is worse, you usually have in stock large variety of what are known as eats blankets. bear you no personal animosity, but have learned that your Christmas visits are not conducive to my happiness. It was only Christmas before last that you left for Miss Jessie a blue and white striped flannel gar ment, bound all around with fine cord of white leather You had been careful to pin upon this article an explanatory note setting forth that it was Christmas blanket for Fido, the spaniel. Fido never wore it. He died from the effects of Christmas breakfast consist ing exclusively of fig paste. Iwore that blanket, and 1 carry the mark of it's girth upon the fur of my stomach to this day. You also left upon that occa- sion small bow and several blunt headed arrows for Master Fred; at least you said they were for Master Fred, though he decided the arrows were for me. It's all right now, however, and 1 bear you no malice. You'll find no oh ldren here this night"
 No children?" repeated Santa Claus in dismay. "Why, l. have a sack of things for Jessie and Fred. "
 Spare yourself the trouble" '" said the Cat, arching her back to such an angle as to make it almost impossible for the snow-flakes to find lodgment upon it. "They're not expecting you. The truth lo lllCl NlOl III lOu. huOW lJ has a rude sound to tell an old gentle man so to his face, but they think you are only Vague Tradition.
 Bless my heart, said Santa Claus. again shaking the clustering snow from h.s bundle of toys; you alarm me-"
 II don't wonder" rejoined the Cat; ''but just fancy my position in the household. Day after day am com pelled to sit in speeches. amazement at the arrogant ignorance that is dis played beneath this roof, and not by the children alone, for I assure you, good sir, that l am daily compelled to listen to assertions from older people, which make me vince as. though about three inches of my tail had been unexpectedly run through a rubber clothes-wringer, 1"
 This is indeed an age of scepticism," broke in Santa Claus. T suppose t is not generally believed thatmy reindeers have magic hoofs.
 "No," replied the Cat; ''nor even that blessings have nimble wings; such blessings, for instance, as faith and hope and trust-the sweet possessions of in- nocent childhood Surely if this were believed and understood, your term of sovereignty over the children would be as long as parents could make it.
 The snow had now ceased falling and old Santa Claus, kn tting his shaggy eyebrows, bent forward to obtain better view of hls philosophical com panion. "Bless my heart,1 said he, 'have l been dreaming? l see no Cat It's only the queer-shaped chimney-pot, creakng in the wind. Hoity-toity, l think I'm growing old" So saying, he swung himself, bundle and all, up to the top of the chimney, and, with a little chuckle that echoed softly like the sound of a mothers kiss through the snowy air, dropped out of sight. Five minutes later his big fur hood came slowly up out of the chimney into the frosty night. 1.-The Cat was right" said he. as he clambered down upon the